Could you hit today’s fastball with a 54 ounce bat?

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Despite romantic tales to the contrary, Walter Johnson was not throwing anywhere near 100 mph heat.

Why not?
Was Feller or Grove?
Nolan Ryan?
Steve Dalkowski?

What's the magic year pitchers were able to hit 100?

[ALR-bishop]

Having stood in the batters box at the Louisville Slugger Bat Museum exhibit where you can have a simulator throw a ball at the speed of your chosen pitcher it would not matter if the bat was 54 oz of a wiffle ball bat because I tended to back up and close my eyes even with that protective barrier in front of me

[Exhibitman]

It is all in how you measure it. Today's numbers are generated from radar guns that measure velocity at 50 feet from the plate. Older measurements required the pitcher to throw through some contraption at a longer distance. Those older measures have to be recalculated to account for the differences in measurements. Nolan Ryan, for example was clocked at 100.6 in the tech of the time, which seems fast but not overpowering, BUT that translates into 108.5 in today's measurement standards, which makes him the ultimate gunslinger. Feller's recalculated velocity was 107.6. Johnson's was 93.8 based on a 1917 test from a Bridgeport, Connecticut, munitions laboratory, but that equipment was less accurate than the newer stuff, so it is harder to say what his velocity was.

[Seven]

I would think someone like Giancarlo Stanton, who swings his bat like a toothpick, could give it a halfway decent shot.

[Exhibitman]

FWIW, i've held and swung a Ruth gamer. It was only in the forties but it was a hunk of iron compared to the thin-handled whips of the modern game.

[icurnmedic]

My son’s baseball team in high school had kids(plural) throwing 90+ miles an hour. Definitely not beyond the realm of probability that pitchers were throwing close to or above 100 miles an hour

[Leon]

I don't remember the weight on this Ruth gamer but I swung it at Chad Drier's (RIP) house in about 2005.
I still had a small peninsula of hair. It has long since eroded. Climate change and all...
It was cool swinging a bat that Babe once swung.

I use a 28 oz playing softball currently. I think I used a 32-34 oz when I played baseball, so no I can't imagine hitting a MLB fastball with a 54oz bat. I am pretty sure I wouldn't be through 20% of my swing when the ball would whiz by.

[Zach Wheat]

I would like to see Miguel Cabrera try. In his younger days, he seemed to be able to adjust to any condition

[Griffins]

Originally Posted by Leon

I don't remember the weight on this Ruth gamer but I swung it at Chad Drier's (RIP) house in about 2005.
I still had a small peninsula of hair. It has long since eroded. Climate change and all...
It was cool swinging a bat that Babe once swung.

I use a 28 oz playing softball currently. I think I used a 32-34 oz when I played baseball, so no I can't imagine hitting a MLB fastball with a 54oz bat. I am pretty sure I wouldn't be through 20% of my swing when the ball would whiz by.

that is the same one Adam was referencing. Think it was 44 ounces. Felt pretty substantial.